[Duskfall]

Hi everyone.

I was wondering how many of you are in or have been in a Masters of Professional Accountancy program on campus and can share your thoughts.

I am in the MPA program at the University of South Dakota by distance. I live in Canada. I am considering finishing the program in person starting this fall for two semesters.

I was wondering if public firms recruit heavily out of these programs. One of the reasons I want to go in person is to take advantage of on campus recruiting. The other is to finish the program quicker, but if I come down it will be more expensive and I would like an internship or job offer out of the excursion.

As a Canadian with an accounting degree, I don’t need visa sponsorship as I qualify for the TN status. I was hoping if I get in front of recruiters and give them this information along with the fact I passed the CPA exams I would have a good shot.

The academic director and the career resource center people at school think it is a really good idea, but they are obviously bias and want my tuition money lol. I thought I would ask this great community what they think!

P.S. If anyone here wants to network, please add me on my LinkedIn page posted on my profile!

FAR - 07/07/2016 - 81
BEC - 08/23/2016
AUD - 10/05/2016
REG - 11/23/2016

[KaliKingz]

Try to speak to alumni or current students at USD. I'm sure admissions can connect you to someone.

I got accepted to UT Austin's MPA program, and found that they had a great recruiting network, also, if I remember correctly, an internship was a requirement to get your MPA.

I chose to go to USC for my Masters of Business Taxation. They had great recruiting! The Alumni network is also an awesome tool.

I am sure USD will be able to provide you with great recruiting resouces.

[Duskfall]

Thanks for your thoughts, I just reached out to someone I took an online class with who did most of the program in person. I believe he was recruited out of school by looking at his LinkedIn, so I think he will talk favorably about recruitment.

Anyone else have opinions on recruitment out of masters programs and if it is worth it to be there in person?

FAR - 07/07/2016 - 81
BEC - 08/23/2016
AUD - 10/05/2016
REG - 11/23/2016

[ruggercpa2b]

As the other person noted above you need to find out if the school has any recruiting events. I know some areas CPA firms will heavily recruit from certain schools. Do they have a meet the firms event? These are all questions you should be asking your career center. If that school does not have much of a CPA firm presence then you are going to have to think outside of the box on how to get into a firm.

The person that goes to the same school that got a job through linkedin technically did not get recruited through the school's program.

Here is a google search, it looks like they had a meet the firms event in 2016.

https://www.usd.edu/news/2016/firms-visit-campus-to-promote-accounting-and-meet-students

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Duskfall]

I worded that poorly. I meant I looked at his LinkedIn and he has a full time gig at the firm he interned at while in school.

I know they have meet the firms and recruiting events at school, I was just wondering how extensive and successful these events are from opinions of other people on this forum who have been to MPA programs.

Thanks for all the help, I've decided to go to school in person this fall.

FAR - 07/07/2016 - 81
BEC - 08/23/2016
AUD - 10/05/2016
REG - 11/23/2016

[Meg267]

Hey! I'm from SD! USD is the prime business school to attend in this area for Accounting. The location of USD is about an hour from the largest town in SD, Sioux Falls. Sioux Falls is where you'll find the accounting firms. There are two major firms — Eide Bailly and McGladrey (RSM). They both usually hire interns. SD is pretty small, and there isn't that many accounting majors who end up sitting for their CPA, so you definetly don't have to worry about finding a job. I went to a different state college in SD, and I still landed interviews at both firms before even beginning to sit for my CPA. I didn't get any offers, but that ended up being fine, as I work in the public sector and love my job.

[Duskfall]

Thanks Meg, I'm looking forward to coming down in the fall. Good luck with the exams!

FAR - 07/07/2016 - 81
BEC - 08/23/2016
AUD - 10/05/2016
REG - 11/23/2016

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